Pump body

Abstract

A multiplex fluid pump assembled from a plurality of pump bodies connected side by side between opposing end plates with a plurality of fasteners tightened to compress the pump bodies between the end plates. Raised surfaces on opposite exterior side surfaces of each pump body are engaged with an adjacent end plate or an adjacent pump body to apply a pre-compressive force at the raised surfaces and thereby inhibit the initiation of fatigue cracks.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)[0001]This application claims the benefit of and priority to provisional application U.S. 61 / 233,709, filed Aug. 13, 2009.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not applicableTHE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT[0003]Not applicableINCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC[0004]Not applicableBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0005](1) Field of the Invention[0006]The current application is related in general to wellsite surface equipment such as fracturing pumps and the like.[0007](2) Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98[0008]Reciprocating pumps such as triplex pumps and quintuplex pumps are generally used to pump high pressure fracturing fluids downhole. Typically, the pumps that are used for this purpose have plunger sizes varying from about 7 cm (2.75 in.) to about 16.5 cm (6.5 in.) in diameter and may operate at pressures up to 144...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]The present application in one embodiment applies pre-compressive forces to raised surfaces on pump bodies to inhibit initiation of fatigue cracks in the fluid end of a multiplex pump.

[0018]In one embodiment, a method is provided to inhibit fatigue cracks in a fluid pump assembly comprising a plurality of pump bodies comprising a piston bore, an inlet bore and an outlet bore. This method in an embodiment comprises: (a) providing raised surfaces on opposite exterior side surfaces of the plurality of pump bodies; (b) forming the pump assembly by connecting the plurality of pump bodies side by side between opposing end plates with a plurality of fasteners, wherein the raised surfaces engage with an adjacent end plate or an adjacent pump body; and (c) tightening the fasteners to compress the plurality of pump bodies between the end plates, whereby a pre-compressive force is applied at the raised surfaces on each of the pump bodies.

[0024]In the various embodiments, the pre-compressive force can extend the operational life of the assembly by reducing stress adjacent an intersection of the piston bore, the inlet bore, and the outlet bore.

Problems solved by technology

These stress cycles may induce fatigue failure of the fluid end.

However, the plastically deformed inner surfaces of the same walls constrain this deformation.

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